U.S. patent number 4,238,859 [Application Number 06/052,837] was granted by the patent office on 1980-12-16 for spill-over spa.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Majestic Sales, Inc.. Invention is credited to Sterling P. Badon, Jr..
United States Patent |
4,238,859 |
Badon, Jr. |
December 16, 1980 |
Spill-over spa
Abstract
A spill-over type spa is disclosed for use with an existing
swimming pool. Water enters the spill-over type spa in the usual
manner, but is thereafter permitted to spill-over into the adjacent
swimming pool via a transition section integrity formed with the
spill-over spa. The transition section rests on an upper peripheral
edge of the swimming pool, thereby permitting water within the spa
to spill-over into the pool. The spa is placed adjacent an existing
pool in a manner to preserve integrity of the existing pool wall,
yet permit the spa to function with the pool.
Inventors: |
Badon, Jr.; Sterling P.
(Carencro, LA) |
Assignee: |
Majestic Sales, Inc.
(Lafayette, LA)
|
Family
ID: |
21980218 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/052,837 |
Filed: |
June 28, 1979 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
4/509; 4/492;
4/578.1; D25/2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H
33/0087 (20130101); A61H 33/601 (20130101); A61H
33/6084 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61H
33/00 (20060101); E04H 003/18 () |
Field of
Search: |
;4/172,172.15-172.17,183,189,173R,173M,175,181 ;141/106,364 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Levy; Stuart S.
Claims
The invention having been described, what is claimed is:
1. A device for installing adjacent an existing swimming pool for
retaining a body of fluid for providing physical relaxation,
therapy and enjoyment, said device communicating with the pool in a
manner so as to preserve the integrity of the existing pool, said
device comprising:
a body having a floor, a semi-annular seat, and sidewall means
including a front wall, a lower circular wall, and an upper
circular wall, said floor and sidewall means defining an enclosure
for retaining a body of fluid,
an upper peripheral edge portion connected to said sidewall means
and including a side edge portion to provide structural support for
the device when installed, and
a transition section formed on and extending laterally outwardly
from said body for permitting fluid within the device to flow from
said device through said transition section and into the adjacent
swimming pool, said transition section having a lower surface, a
pair of sidewalls, a top edge portion joined to said upper
peripheral edge portion of said sidewall means, an outer edge
portion, and a spillway, said transition section lower surface
including a downwardly extending lip depending from the edge of
said transition section lower surface which engages an upper inner
edge surface of the adjacent swimming pool to preclude the flow of
fluid along the underside of the transition section.
2. The device as set forth in claim 1, including at least one fluid
inlet mounted with said body for introducing and directing fluid
flow into said body.
3. The device as set forth in claim 2, including means
interconnecting said fluid inlet with a fluid pump, including:
a fluid valve for directing fluid flow to said device and said
pool; and
fluid conduit means interconnecting said device, pool and pump for
providing fluid flow therebetween.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Open-air spas are becoming a commonplace item in American homes and
backyards, such spas designed to be positioned in close proximity
with either indoor or outdoor family pools. Some of these spas
include individual heaters and circulation systems for circulating
hot water within. These hot water spas possess inherent therapeutic
aspects and advantages in their ability to massage and relax
strained muscles by surrounding the body with circulating hot water
and by providing hot water pressure jets to direct streams of hot
water directly onto the strained muscles. Hot water spas also
provide simple physical relaxation and leisure time enjoyment for
those not necessarily desiring physical therapy or a hot water
massage of tired or strained muscles, but simple seeking to relax
in the privacy in their home or backyard.
Formerly, these open-air spas were available in only two forms: (1)
a spa constructed with, and forming a part of, a swimming pool so
that the water within could freely flow between the two, generally
however, in only one direction, from the spa to the pool, and (2) a
spa positioned in close proximity with an existing pool, but
functioning separate and apart therefrom, an often-times requiring
its own pump and filtering system. It was deemed to be desirable to
combine a spa and swimming pool for use with a single pump and
filtering system, but heretofore, unless a spa was constructed with
a pool at the time of installation, it was required to be
"added-on" to an existing pool. In so doing, the previous
alternatives were: (1) to alter the configuration of the existing
pool by removing part of a wall thereto, and installing a spa
adjacent the pool and connecting the two by a hole or other
passageway cut into the wall of the existing pool in order that
water could flow freely back and forth between the pool and the
added-on spa; or (2) to install a spa adjacent the swimming pool
but separate therefrom thus avoiding the added expense and
inconvenience of modifying the existing pool to incorporate the
"add-on" spa.
The first alternative above, could be accomplished by either: (1)
installing a preformed "add-on" spa of fiberglass or the like
adjacent the existing, typically concrete, pool, or (2) modifying
the existing pool to incorporate a concrete spa adjacent thereto,
forming part of the original existing pool. The first option, that
of installing a preformed fiberglass or the like spa to an existing
concrete pool had accompanying obvious drawbacks inherent in
attempting to provide a water-tight seal between dissimilar
materials, fiberglass and concrete. In addition, any break or gap
in the integrity of the pool structural wall will almost always
result in repeated or perpetual cracks in the wall originating at
the union of the existing pool wall and the "add-on" spa due to the
tremendous forces exerted on the wall by the volume of water within
the pool. This is a constant source of frustration and expense to
the pool owner. The second choice, is obviously more expensive than
the first, thus a substantial deterrent to those wishing to install
a recreational spa adjacent to, and in functional relationship
with, an existing swimming pool.
The spill-over spa of the present invention is adapted to be used
in conjunction with a pre-existing pool and provide communication
between the pool and the spa without altering or otherwise
modifying the existing pool in any manner, thereby preserving the
integrity of the existing pool wall.
In accordance with the present invention, a spill-over type spa is
provided, including a spillway over which water or other fluid
contained therein will "spill-over" into a swimming pool or other
reservior positioned adjacent therewith. The spa of the present
invention is adapted to be installed adjacent an existing swimming
pool without the necessity of altering or modifying the existing
pool in any manner to accomodate such spa. A system of fluid flow
conduit and fluid valves interconnect the spill-over spa, the
swimming pool and the pump associated therewith in order that fluid
within the spa and swimming pool may be returned to the spa and
swimming pool, either separately or together.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference
to the drawings, in which like reference characters are used
throughout to desinate like parts.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the spill-over spa of the present
invention, showing the edge of an adjacent swimming pool, in
phantom, illustrating a typical installation.
FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the spill-over spa, the
section taken along the plane of symmetry.
While the invention will be described in connection with a
preferred embodiment, it will be understood, that it is not
intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the
contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications
and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of
the invention as defined by the appended claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Turning now to FIG. 1, there is shown a spill-over spa of the
present invention illustrated generally by the numeral 10. The
spill-over spa 10 comprises, in large part, a body 12 having a
floor 14, a semi-annular seat 16, sidewall means, comprising a
front wall 18, a lower circular wall 20 and an upper circular wall
22, all defining an enclosure 23 for holding a body of water or
other fluid therein.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention is a unitary
molded fiberglass construction, having an upper peripheral edge
portion 24, extending almost totally around the semi-spherical
periphery of the spa 10. Molded with this top edge portion 24 is a
side edge portion 26, which provides structural support for the
unit when installed as will be described hereinbelow.
The spa 10 of the present invention includes a transition section
generally illustrated at 28, which section comprises a lower
surface 30, sidewalls 32, a top edge portion 34, an outer edge
portion 36 and a spillway 38. This transition section 28 is
integrally formed with the spa body 12 for permitting water or
other fluid contained within the spa body to overflow through the
transition section and into an adjacent pool or reservoir 46.
The transition section 28 includes a bottom edge surface 40, which
surface engages the upper edge surface of the pool or reservoir. As
best shown in the drawing, this bottom edge surface 40 extends
around the periphery of the spa 10 and comprises a mounting edge by
which the spa rests on a supporting surface, and by which the spa
is guaged, leveled and supported adjacent the existing swimming
pool in order to function properly.
As shown in the drawings, the preferred embodiment includes a
number of fluid inlets 42 mounted with the upper and lower circular
walls, 22 and 20 respectively, for introducing and directing the
flow of heated fluid into the spa. These fluid inlets 42 are
connected by interconnecting conduit 44 to the fluid pump 50, in a
manner similar to the flow conduit connecting the swimming pool and
the fluid pump. Also included in the present installation is a
multi-positioned and multi-function fluid valve, or alternatively,
a plurality of fluid valves, mounted with the fluid pump and
interconnecting conduit for directing fluid flow from the pump to
the spill-over spa and swimming pool and returning the fluid
therefrom.
The transition section 28 may include an optional downwardly
extending lip 52 depending from the outer edge portion 36 of the
transition section lower surface 30. This lip 52 is designed to
extend into the pool area sufficiently to prevent water or other
fluid spilling over from the spa 10 into the pool 46 from running
along the underside of the lower surface 30 and onto the upper
peripheral edge of the pool or back along the spa exterior where it
could erode the soil around the spa, causing loss of structural
support and otherwise creating undesirable conditions.
Alternatively, this underflow of water along the underside of the
lower surface 30 could be prevented by imparting a slight incline
to the lower surface sufficient to preclude the reverse flow of
water back to the spa 10.
As those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, the spill-over
spa of the present invention may be easily installed adjacent an
existing swimming pool 46 without altering or otherwise modifying
the structure of the pool itself or otherwise interfering with the
integrity of the pool wall. The procedure for so doing is simply to
dig a hole of sufficient size to accomodate the spill-over spa
adjacent the existing pool, and to dig trenches for the placement
of the interconnecting conduit 44 from the spill-over spa 10 to the
fluid pump 50. Next, a support is constructed, typically of
concrete and at a height equal to the peripheral edge of the
existing swimming pool, and having an opening therein into which
the body 12 of the spill-over spa 10 will fit when lowered into
position. This support and opening therein are positioned adjacent
the existing swimming pool to permit the transition section 28 of
the spa 10 to extend into the swimming pool 46 sufficiently to
permit fluid from within the spa passing through the transition
section to spill-over into the swimming pool enclosure. With the
spill-over spa 10 so positioned, interconnecting conduit is
connected to the fluid inlets 42 of the spa, the fluid inlets of
the swimming pool, the fluid valve or valves 48 and the fluid pump
50 as is customary in the trade.
Ths spill-over spa 10 of the present invention may be used in
conjunction with, or independently of, the existing adjacent
swimming pool 46. This is accomplished by adjusting the fluid
valves 48 which control fluid flow from the pump to the spa fluid
inlets 42 and the swimming pool and back therefrom to the pump. As
is customary, a water heater is provided to heat water being
injected into the spa 10 and hence, it may be desirable to
recirculate this heated water within the spa independently of that
in the adjacent swimming pool. This could be accomplished by
closing the valve or valves interconnecting the pump 50 with the
swimming pool 46, so that water flows from only the spa outlet to
the pump 50 and back to the spa inlet 42 through the optional water
heater. In this manner, the spill-over spa 10 operates in a
conventional manner, independently of the adjacent swimming
pool.
When it is desired to operate the spill-over spa 10 and the
swimming pool 46 in conjunction with one another, valves 48 are
accordingly adjusted to direct fluid from the fluid pump 50 to the
spa fluid inlets 42, and to receive fluid from the swimming pool
fluid outlets for recirculation through the pump and optional
heater back to the spa 10. In this mode, fluid in the spa 10
reaches a predetermined maximum level and then overflows through
the transition section 28 into the swimming pool 46 for
recirculation back through the pump 50 and into the spa again.
The present invention has been described as having a semi-circular
configuration with a flat, straight surface positioned adjacent a
corresponding straight side of the swimming pool 46. Obviously, the
shape is unimportant to the present invention so long as the
spill-over spa is positioned in close proximity with the swimming
pool to permit the transition section 28 to function as intended to
permit the fluid within the spa 10 to spill-over into the adjacent
swimming pool.
From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well
adapted to attain all of the ends and objects hereinabove set
forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which
are inherent to the apparatus.
It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are
of utility and may be employed with reference to other features and
subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of
the claims.
As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without
departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all
matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to
be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *